The Clarence Valley timber industry is still uncertain how many jobs could be lost due to the suspension of logging in the proposed Great Koala National Park as the NSW Government assesses the impact on the endangered marsupials and timber industry jobs.

Announced last Tuesday week, the halt to logging, which began on September 1 after agreement with the NSW Forestry Corporation, covers 106 koala “hubs” across more than 8400 hectares of forest in the proposed mid-north coast National Park, being gazetted in the region.

Koala hubs are areas where there is strong evidence of multi-generational, high-density populations of the iconic animal.

Koala hubs cover approximately 5 per cent of the Great Koala National Park assessment area but contain 42 per cent of recorded koala sightings in state forests in the assessment area since 2000.

The NSW Government is now discussing the steps to establish a National Park with the NSW Forestry Corporation which will contain three key components.

Firstly, an independent economic and social assessment considering the impacts on local jobs and communities.

Secondly, the establishment of industry, community, and Aboriginal advisory panels to provide input into the creation of the park.

Thirdly, an expert environmental and cultural heritage assessment to safeguard the unique environmental and cultural heritage of the region and ensure the Great Koala National Park aligns with the highest standards of environmental protection and respect for cultural heritage.

The suspension of logging comes after environmental groups and crossbench MPs called for the government to honour their election promise to establish the park or stop the Forestry Corporation logging within the proposed park’s boundaries.

Marshall Notaras Hardwoods General Manager and Vice President of Timber NSW, Donna Layton said until the government releases further details of the 106 “koala hubs” they are uncertain about the number of jobs that could be lost by locals.

“They still haven’t actually said what the areas are that they are going to not harvest in and where the actual koala hubs are, so it’s really hard to work out what the ramifications are going to be,” she said.

“If they are all in areas that are already being harvested, it will be devastating for the industry, if it’s not, it mightn’t be as bad as we think.”

Ms Layton said the local timber industry was just getting back to its full allocation of timber following the devastating 2019-20 bushfires and subsequent floods.

“This is the first time in over four years that we are actually getting a log supply in, still not 100 per cent, so if we go back to losing a certain amount, it’s going to cost jobs,” she said.

“I’ve had employees coming in concerned yesterday after the news filtered through and I told them they will know when I know, but at this point in time nothing will happen and everyone’s job is secure, until we know what they’re closing, when they’re closing.”

Ms Layton said she anticipates some of the areas will be closed until 2024 while consultation on the proposed park takes place.

“After they have all of the consultation, finally with industry involved, because there has been no consultation with the industry to date, they will let us know where we can and can’t be at the present time, but nothing has come out yet,” she said.

Member for Clarence Richie Williamson said he met with Environment Minister Penny Sharp last week and although there could be some job losses, he believes a balance can be achieved to preserve koalas and keep the timber industry sustainable.

“Yes, there is the potential for job losses, which concerns me greatly,” he said.

“Some of the areas of the 106 “koala hubs” the industry agrees with and some of those areas were already locked up and were agreed to be of high biodiversity for koalas.

“It is important that the balance is found between a sustainable timber industry and the protection of koalas, and I believe that balance can be found.

“I am also a big supporter of a sustainable timber industry, one that employs thousands of people in my electorate.”

Mr Williamson said the minister was very open to widespread consultation being conducted before the Great Koala National Park is established, which will be welcomed by the timber industry.

“Consultation with the conservation movement, and consultation with the timber industry as well and I have some faith that the timber industries interests and the conservationists’ interests will be taken into consideration as they draw up the remainder of the Great Koala National Park,” he said.

“The minister has given me an undertaking that she will be in the Northern Rivers region shortly to start those conversations with the timber industry, and she has no perceived outcomes of those conversations.”

Mr Williamson said Minister Sharp ruled out following Victoria, where native forest logging will end this year.

“She believes timber plays a role in the state’s economy and has no plans to follow the Victorian model,” he said.

Minister Sharp told Mr Williamson she would not commit to a timeline of when the Great Koala National Park will be finalised.

NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the creation of the Great Koala National Park is essential to saving koalas from extinction in NSW.

“I don’t believe there is anyone who wants to tell their grandchildren that we used to have koalas in New South Wales but no longer do,” she said.

“The government is taking serious steps towards its creation and will work closely with the community, Aboriginal organisations and industry as the areas for inclusion in the park are assessed.”

Greens MP and spokesperson for the Environment Sue Higginson said the suspension of logging in areas of the proposed Great Koala National Park is a tiny step that should have been implemented six months ago and the government needs to take bigger steps.

“Koalas are in serious trouble and if we don’t stop destroying their habitat across the state, they will be extinct before 2050,” she said.

“Voluntary undertakings by the Forestry Corporation to avoid koala hubs within one area of the public forest estate, while good, will not make the difference that koalas need. 

“Koala hubs should be protected across the entire public native forest estate at a minimum, not as a bold announcement about a proposed National Park.”

Did you know?

• 88% of NSW public native forests are protected in conservation reserves.
• 12% of public native forests are used to produce hardwood timber.
• In any given year only 0.3% of forests are subject to selective harvesting.

Koala monitoring over the last five years (2018-2023) has found no evidence that koalas are in decline in north coast hinterland forests revealing that they are resilient to drought, bushfires, and floods. https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/forestry/science/forest-ecology/Koala-Monitoring

Information provided by Marshall Notaras Hardwoods.

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 20 September 2023.

This article relates to issues discussed on the Australian Rural & Regional News page: Open for Debate – Koalas